Washing machine



July 15, 1930. s. ESCHROEDER WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 15, 1930. s. E. SCI-IIROEDER WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 24, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet z) $2222 F E T'T D'ELNE'Y'EI y 30. s. E. SCHROEDER 1,770,713

WASHING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 24, 1927 my FERW v E %u Patented July 7 l5, l93@ narrate sates lWWlE SIMQN E. SCHROEDER, OF NEWTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR, BY IVIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

AUTOMATIC WASHER COMPANY, OF NEWTON, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE WASHING MACHINE Application. filed. September 24, 1927. Serial No. 221,657.

This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to driving mechanism therefor.

One of the objects of the invention is in g; the provision of driving mechanism for washing machlnes, the same belng of such construction as to permit the. oscillation of the agitator within the tub to be accomplished with the minimum of vibration.

-Another object resides in the manner of driving an agitator member in a washing machine tub, said driving mechanism including such frictional driving connection withthe main drive shaft as'to accomplish the oscillation of the agitator with practically no vibration.

Still another object liesin the provision of driving mechanism for agitating means in a washing machine tub, said driving means comprising a pulley connected to the vertical drive shaft and an oscillating segment cooperating with the pulley in such manner that a belt portion of the segmenthas a fric-v tional engagement with the pulley which prevents the'usual vibration that occurs upon the end of each driving stroke, whereby an v oscillatory movement is given to the agitator member in other types of driving means.

A further object lies in the provision of driving mechanism for the agitator dlsposed adjacent the bottom of a washing machine tub, the same being driven from a vertical drive shaft projecting through the bottom center of the tub, said driving mechanism comprising a V-shaped pulley and a pivoted segment carrying a V-belt capable of engag-' ing the V-shaped pulley to accomplish the driving of the agitator, the above mentioned segment being oscillated by a pitman connected with the main driving means.

A still further object resides in driving "mechanism for the agitator member of a washing machine, the same including a pivoted segment carrying a belt member capae ble of engaging a pulley connected to the agitator drive shaft, there being provided also means for oscillating the segment, tensioning means for holding the belt in. engagement ,50 with the pulley and clutch mechanism for nexed drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view from below taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and

i F i 4 is an elevational view, partially in section, taken on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 4 contains perhaps the best showing of the general arrangement and type of washing machine upon which the present driving mechanism is designed to be utilized.

The washing machine itself comprises a tub 10, curvilinear in shape, as shown perhaps most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, said tub being made of metal, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4, the same comprising the ver tical walls and bottom 11. The walls and bottom are connected in a watertight manner as shown at 12. The bottom itself is substantially flat. However, as best shown in Fig. 2, approaching the bottom center, the same is raised a substantial distance, as indicated at 13, the same being accomplished by a series of steps 14. The reasonfor fashioning the bottom in this, manner is to increase further. the strength of the metal by the stamping of same in the so-called step manner, as well as to elevate the water agitating member, later to be described, a substantial distance above the bottom.

It might also be stated at this time that by fashioning the bottom in this strengthened manner, it is not necessary to provide additional supporting means beneath the tub, for thedrive shaft.

Within the tub there is shown the multiple bladed agitator 15 connected to and driven by a vertical drive shaft 16 at a point 17 above the normal water level. The drive shaft projects through an opening in the bottom of the tub, which is sealed by means of the combined lower supporting member for the drive shaft and sealing member, 18. The latter has a threaded relationship 19 with a nut 20 disgasket portion 21 against-the bottom of the tub, thereby closlng any possible water exit. A look nut 22 is shown, which completes the assembly of the sealing and drive shaft supporting mechanism.

An exterior portion 23 on the above described supporting member contains upon its exterior surface a means for centering the water agitator 15. The vertical drive shaft 16 projects a substantial distance below the bottom of the tub, the same having fixedly connected thereto, as at 24, a pulley 25 which, as may be clearly seen in Fig. 2, is V-shaped, as at 26, in order to receive a V-shaped driving belt later to be described.

It might be stated at this t1me that the usual manner of oscillating an a 'tator within a washing machine tub is in xing a gear to the bottom of the drive shaft and reciprocating same either by means of the well known rack bar or segment gear, which is in turn oscillated by means of some sort of pitman.

In order to overcome the resulting vibration, which accompanies this kind ofdrive at the end of each power stroke, applicant has devised a friction driving means for the pulley 25, the same comprising a segmentportion made up of the radially extending arms 27 and 28. These arms have their pro ecting ends connected by'a curved portion 29, which carries in a detachable manner upon its inner side the V-shaped belt portion 30. This V; belt is capable of engaging the V-shaped portion 26 of the pulley 25 in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and in this way, upon oscillation, transmits a similar movement to the pulley, which in turn is carried through the vertical drive shaft to the water agitating member. The arms 27 and 28 converge at the point 31, the same being pivoted as at 32. The above described segment is connected to a lower frame portion 33, which forms a part of the segment and acts as a guiding means there for. The lower frame has, during the driving operation, a substantially fixed position, but the segment and V-belt portion has a slight yielding relationship with respect to this framing in that the pivot 32 is capable of slight lateral movement controlled by the coil spring 34. This connection is made in the following manner. A downwardly pro-- jecting lug 35 connected to the terminating portion 31 of the arms 27 -and 28 carries a laterally extending bolt member 36. A similar downwardly projecting portion 37 carries a similar laterally disposed bolt 38. The

coil spring 34' is disposed upon these bolt members and against the downwardly proecting portions 35 and 37 in. a manner to hold the pivot 32 for the segment in such position that the V-belt engages the V porthe eccentric portion 39 which durin its cam operation and its connection with t e framing 33 and therefore the driving segment, operates to movesaid segment inwardly and therefore to accomplish the clutching operation. A similar movement in the opposite direction obviously accomplishes the declutching operation.

Means for moving the clutch or eccentric member 39 is provided in the vertically extending rod 40, to which is connected a manually controlled handle 41. p

Mechanism for oscillating the frictional driving segment is' accomplished by pitman 42, which has a pivotal connection 43 with a lug member connected to a plate 44 which is fixedly connected at both sides to the arms 27 and 28, of said driving segment. The opposite end of the pitman has a pivotal connection 45 with a crank 46, which in turn is integrally connected, as shown in Fig. 4,

to the stub driveshaft 47, the same being supported in suitable bearings in the gear casing 50. Driving means for the stub drive shaft 47 is provided in the gear 51 and worm 52. Suitable bearing supports 53 are provided for the worm gear in the gear housing wringer. mechanism, not shown, inasmuch as the present application is directed mainly to the driving means for'the' agitator.

As respects the operation of the present washer, and especially the driving mechanism therefor,'we find generally that the washing machine follows the well known type of washer in which the bladed agitator 1 is disposed adjacent the bottom of the tub and driven from above the normal water line by vertical drive shaft extending throu h the bottom of the tub, the driving means or.

the vertical drive shaft being at the bottom thereof and disposed below the bottom of the tub and exteriorly theredf.

In the present instance, power generated by the electric motor is transmitted through the well known worm, gear and stub drive shaft to a crank which operates the pitman 42 in amanner to oscillate the pivoted driving segment, which in this instance hasjaportion of a V belt detachably secured thereto in a manner to engage a V-shaped pulley disposed upon the lower end of the vertical drive shaft.

The described tension mechanism holds the V. belt in correct driving relationship with respect to the V pulley and therefore permits oscillation of the pulley and come quently the water agitator, whenever .the segment is oscillated by the pitman 42.

The clutching operation is obviously accomplished by the eccentric 39, which permits the driving segment to be moved into or out of engagement with the V pulley. This clutching operation obviously is not attended by the jar 'which 'occurs in the usual driving mechanism, and as a matter of fact, during inspection of the operation of this machine, one may scarcely notice the clutching or unclutching of the driving mechanism. The V pulley is engaged by the V belt in such frictional manner as to slipperhaps slightly in h case of overload, andinstead of accomplishing the clutching action with a jerk, acts rather to gradually pick up the load without jar.

Similarly, during oscillation of the "agitator,

the frictional engagement reduces the vibra-- tion that ordinarily results at the end of each power stroke to 'a minimum and therefore reduces the wear and tear uponthe driving mechanism and upon the machine itself, including the clothes content.

What I claim is:

1. A driving mechanism for a washing machine agitator including a drive shaft for the agitator, a pulley attached to said shaft,

I means for oscillating the pulley including a pivoted segment having a belt portion at 40 tached thereto in a manner to engage the pulley, means for oscillating said segment and means for clutching and unclutching the segment with respect to the pulley.

2. A-driving mechanism for a washing ma, chine agitator comprising a drive shaft operatively connected with the agitator, a V-pulley connected to the drive shaft, apivoted seg ment having a V-belt portion capable of engaging the V-pulley, power means for oscillating the segment, and clutch mechanism for moving the driving segment towards and from the V-pulley.

3. A driving mechanism for a washing machine "agitator comprising a drive shaft, means for oscillating said drive shaft including a V-pulley attached thereto, a segment driveha-ving'a V-belt portion capable of engaging the V-pulley powermeans for oscillating said segment. tension mechanism for holding the V-belt in frictional engagement with the V-pulley and clutch mechanism associated, with the segment in a manner to move same towards and from the V-pulley. 14. A driving mechanism for a washing ma; chine agitator comprising a drive shaft, a

pivoting the segment drive with respect to 4 the frame portion, and a spring tension means permitting slight lateral movement of the pivot to automatically hold the V-belt in engagement with the V-pulley and to take up any wear thereon.

5. A driving mechanism for a washing machine agitator comprising a drive shaft, a pulley attached to said drive shaft, means for frictionally driving said pulley in a manner to oscillate the water-agitating means, including a pivoted segment drive having a belt member thereon adapted to frictionally engage the pulley, means for normally holding said belt in a tensioned relation to t e pulley, power means for oscillating the segment and clutch mechanism controlling the movement of the segment towards'and from the pulley.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

SIMON 'E. SCHROEDER. 

